Share this:

Like this:

The Sheffield Shield Season commenced in 2016/17 with a pink ball day-night round of matches.

Victoria v Tasmania, MCG

A surprise selection for Victoria with new coach Andrew McDonald omitting Glenn Maxwell from the XI. Aaron Finch and Cameron White were preferred to Maxwell in the batting line up, Dan Christian was a like for like replacement for the injured Marcus Stoinis and Marcus Harris moved from WA into the openers role at the expense of Bob Quiney.

Tasmania omitted Tim Paine, no surprise really, and youngster Jake Doran took the gloves. He looks to be Tasmania’s Shield keeper but you never know with 4 keepers in the squad. Queensland imports allrounder Simon Milenko and legspinner Cameron Boyce debuted for the Tigers. 19 year old Caleb Jewell opened the batting for the Tigers, in just his second first class match.

Victoria batted first and Marcus Harris had a point to prove. He made 115 off 144 balls. A pair of 78s to Peter Handscomb and Matthew Wade plus 64 to Cameron White lead the Vics to 415. Jackson Bird and Simon Milenko tokk 3 wickets apiece for the visitors.

In reply Tasmania were rolled for 255. The only resistance offered was by George Bailey (64) and some late hitting from Cameron Boyce with 56 off 53 balls. The pick of the Victorian bowlers was Dan Christian with 4/35.

In the second innings Marcus Harris continued to bat like with the consistency that WA coach Justin Langer had said was missing from his game. He made 77 off 88 balls and was the only score of note as the Vics declared at 9/204 a lead of 365. Jackson Bird and Beau Webster each took 3 wickets for Tasmania.

The Tigers were never in the hunt as they slumped to 4-21. A stead flow of wickets thereafter meant that James Faulkner patient innings of 78 off 156 balls was in vain. Chris Tremain and Scott Boland both took 3 wickets for the Bushrangers as they won by 113 runs. Marcus Harris justified his recruitment winning the man of the match award.

Points

Victoria 8.73

Tasmania 0.95

Queensland v New South Wales, Gabba

New South Wales took a strong line up into this match with 9 current or former test players in the XI.

Queensland were not able to select young opener Matt Renshaw due to an injury suffered in the Matador Cup. The Bulls recalled forgotten middle order batsmen, and Australian ODI player, Peter Forrest. Ben Cutting did not make the XI which is not surprising as he has been on the outer of Shield cricket since February 2015.

New South Wales batted first and it was one of the non internationals who made a century. Kurtis Patterson (111) and Steve Smith (117) shared a 228 run partnership which was the back bone of the NSW innings of 7/327 declared. Luke Feldman took 5/68 for the Bulls.

In reply Queensland were lead by a century to Joe Burns and half centuries to Usman Khawaja(79) and Marnus Labushagne (85*). The Bulls declared just in front at 6/330. Josh Hazlewood was the best bowler for NSW with 4/70.

Dave Warner dominated in the second innings. Ably supported by Ed Cowan (95), Warner plundered 134 off 160 balls in a 230 run opening stand. The Blues declared their innings at 7/367 setting Queensland a victory target of 365. At stumps on Day 3 Queensland were 1/51 with Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns at the crease.

Day 4 wasn’t Queensland’s day. Doug Bollinger had replaced Mitch Starc in the NSW XI after the frist innings and now dismissed Khawaja in the second over of the days play. The Bulls quickly subsided to be all out for 139 in 48 overs. Bollinger cleaned up the tail to finish with 4/32.

This took Bollinger to 5th on the all time wicket takers for NSW in Shield cricket. The 35 year old in his 14th season for NSW now has 265 wickets at an average of 26. He is just one wicket behind Richie Benuad, but a bit further behind the top 3 of Geoff Lawson (367) Greg Matthews (363) and Stuart MacGill (328).

Bollinger has been in fine form this season taking 4 consecutive hauls of 3 wickets in the Matador Cup – he would have been a prudent selection of an experienced bowler for the recent ODIs v South Africa.

Peter Neville continued his lean run with the bat – making just 1 and 13. Peter Forrests recall was not a happy one registering just 7 and 11.

Points

New South Wales 7.87

Queensland 2

Western Australia v South Australia, WACA

Western Australia headed into this match with a strong batting line up but a mixed bowling line up due to injury. Ashton Agar was the spinner and the pace trio was Jason Behrendorf, journeyman Ryan Duffield and youngster David Moody.

Western Australia batted frist and struggled to 9/270 declared with only Shaun Marsh and Michael Klinger contributing half centuries. Joe Mennie was the Redbacks best with 3 wickets.

In reply South Australia were in all sorts of trouble at 2/3 but recovered to run up 9/505 declared in quick time scoring at 4.76 runs per over. Callum Ferguson made 101 off 127 balls, Travis Head made 66 of 61 balls, Tom Cooper made 138 off 154 balls, and Alex Carey chipped in with 79.

Interestingly Cooper was cut from SA contracted players at the end of last season but has played every game so far this season.

Aston Agar was WA’s best with 3/71 and Mitch Marsh made a ton – with the ball – taking 2/110 off 23 overs going at 5.23 runs per over. Batting at number 5, Mitch made 12 and was bowled for first ball in the second innings for a golden duck. With these kind of numbers it is easy to see why he has been retained in the Australian test squad.

The WA second innings was little better than the first. Shaun Marsh made a ton opening the batting and number 6 Hilton Cartwright made 80 but they were bowled out for 302 leaving South Australia needing 69 runs for victory. The Redbacks made light work of this target to register a 10 wicket win. Chadd Sayers took 4/57 and it was a 3 over burst which ran through the WA middle order of Klinger(30), Voges (0 off 9) and Mitch Marsh (golden duck) that proved decisive. Redbacks keeper Alex Carey collected 5 dismissals in the second innings.

Points

South Australia 9.61

Western Australia 1.51

Futures League

Prior to round 1 of the Shield season the first roudn of Futures League matcehs were played.

The ACT hosted South Australia and Brad Haddin made a cameo appearance frot he Comets making 114 (out of 276) and 190. Alas it was not enough as Kelvin Smith made 210 and Jake Winter 144 as South Australia made 613 and won comfortably.

Victoria hosted WA at the satelite city of Casey Fields in Melbournes far outer east – so far east you are shaking hands with Gippsland. For WA Jonathan Wells made 153 and 149*, Victoria’s Seb Gotch made 125 and leg spinner James Muirhead took 3/85 and made a ton taking 1/107 in the second innings in 21 overs. The match fininshed in a draw.

Queensland traveled to the Kingston Twin Ovals in Tasmania. Peter Forrest and Sam Truloff both made tons for Queensland. Whilst for Tasmania Caleb Jewell made an even 100 and the forgotten man of Tasmanian cricket, Jordan Silk, made 106* batting at number 3. Could he be the answer to Tasmania’s top order woes?

After declerations in each ofthe first 3 innings, Tasmania were set a victory target of 325. Enter opener Jake Hancock who crossed from Victoria after an impressive Futures League campaign fort the Vics in 2015/16. Hancock made 134 and Jake Doran made 138* as the Tasmanians strode to victory with 7 wickets in hand.

The Futures League schedule looks to be well structured this season with this first round played during the Matador Cup finals and prior to the first round of the Shield. There is also a round during the BBL finals, just prior to the Shield recommencing in early February. With 7 teams in the Futures League (the 6 states plus the ACT) one team has a bye in each of the seven rounds of matches. The question is, is it time to introduce a CAXI team into this competition to make it 8 teams and eliminate the bye?

Tour Matches

South Africa have played two 2 day tour matches that have been little more than centre wicket practice. A day night encounter at Adelaide Oval against the CAXI was followed by a match at Glenelg Oval against the SA 2nd XI. Omitted SA keeper Tim Ludeman made the most of the opportunity blasting 167 off 134 balls.

Share this:

Like this:

Right the annual shitfight about AFL grand final entertainment is on, so here is the definitive solution to the biggest annual problem facing the AFL.

The answer is simple have the same entertainment every year!

The big dance starts at 2:30pm so we need something to entertain the crowd prior. Here is the lineup:

1:38pm Fanfare of the Common Man

Channel 7s football theme from the early 1990s will get the people in the mood for football.

1:40pm Mike Brady – Up There Cazaly & One Day in September.

Mike loves the Grand Final so wheel him out every year and get him to sing his 2 greatest hits – and they sound so similar. The best bit is unlike Meatloaf, Mike will do it for free. Catchy tunes on the cheap!

1:50pm Greg Champion – The Thing about Football.

One of Champs best – get him to duet with Richard Champion!

1:55pm Angry Anderson and the Batmobile – Bound for Glory

We cringe but deep down we all love it – bring it back!

2:00pm Hunters and Collectors – Holy Grail

Didn’t hear enough of this song when Channel 10 had the AFL rights – bring it back!

2:05pm Some big name current Aussie act doing a 10 minute set.

For example: ACDC, Frenzal Rhomb,The Seekers or Cold Chisel.

Your welcome AFL, you can thank me anytime for sorting the AFL Grand Final entertainment.